An analysis by Indiana University researchers indicates a striking disparity in the amount of funding and studies geared toward homicides compared with other public health topics, a difference that disproportionately affects black Americans.

The study, written by Molly Rosenberg, an assistant professor at the School of Public Health on the Bloomington campus, found that homicide, despite being the No. 1 cause of potential years of life lost among black Americans, is significantly underfunded in comparison with other public health topics.

"Homicide-related deaths in America, most of which are caused by firearms, constitute a public health crisis. Yet when we look at what kind of public health research gets funded and published, we find homicide to be conspicuously absent," Rosenberg said in a written statement. "The top causes of death that impact the health of white Americans, on the other hand, are much better represented in public health research and funding."

The study looked at the more than 2.7 million deaths of black and white Americans in 2015 and calculated the potential years of life lost across more than 30 causes of death. That analysis revealed significant disparities between the years lost between black and white Americans across all causes of death.

Those 2.7 million deaths resulted in nearly 21.4 million potential years of life lost, the study said, and 20 percent of those years represent black lives lost.

Black Americans represent 13 percent of the country's total population.

Among white Americans, homicide was the 12th-highest contributor to potential years of life lost.

While research on homicide received a handful of federal grants and mentions in research publications, studies on heart disease, which is the top cause of potential years of life lost among white Americans, received 341 grants and almost 600 publications in 2015, according to the release.

"This lack of investment threatens to perpetuate a system that disadvantages the health of black Americans," Rosenberg said.

Molly Rosenberg(Photo: Provided by IU Bloomington)

Additionally, the study revealed the number of potential years of life lost per death is often higher for black Americans. Black Americans who commit suicide, for instance, die, on average, 10 years earlier than white Americans who commit suicide, according to the release.

The study also examined the potential social, economic and psychological consequences of an early death. The estimated remaining productivity for a 31-year-old, the average age of a black American killed by homicide, is more than $1.5 million, according to the release.

"The more premature a death, the greater the loss in economic productivity for the family, community and society," Rosenberg said. "This loss of human potential can push families into poverty and societies toward heightened inequality."

Co-authors of the study include Ashley Townes, a doctoral student in the IU School of Public Health in Bloomington, Shabbar Ranapurwala at UNC Gillings School of Public Health, and Angela Bengtson at Brown University School of Public Health.